Coin operated locks



Feb. 9, 1960 E. C. MAURER COIN OPERATED LOCKS Filed March 28, 1957 INVENTOR [dn/ar'a C Maurer ATTORNEY COIN OPERATED LOCKS Edward C. aster, St. Paul, Minn. Application March 28, 1957, Serial No. 649,258 2 Claims. (Cl. 194-32) This invention relates to an improvement in coin operated locks and deals particularly with a simple and, effective lock for use on coin controlled lockers, storage boxes and the like. i

In my previously filed application for patent for self service laundry and dry cleaning systems, Serial No. 303,355, filed August 8, 1952, now Patent No. 2,805,747, of which the present application is a continuation-im part, I described a locker embodying a coin operated lock which was so arrangedthat 'the latch bolt thereof could not be moved into locked position unless a coin were first inserted. This general type-of lock is useful in various types of storage lockers and the like, the construction being such that the lower key is held'from removal until the locker is locked and the locker cannot be locked unless a coin of proper denomination is inserted. The present invention lies in the specific form of lock and in the details of construction thereof.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a lock which is extremely simple in form and which can be produced at low cost. In general, the lock includes a latch bolt which is slidable from locked position to unlocked position. The latch bolt is operated by rotation of a suitable key, and the key is constructed so that it can be only removed in one rotative position, that position preferably being when the latch bolt is in locked-condition. The latch bolt is provided. with a simple projection movable with the latch bolt and forming a part thereof. This projection is engageable with a simple locking lever which is normally in the path of movement of the latch bolt projection. When the latch bolt moves into unlocked position, the projection thereupon is engaged with locking lever and the latch bolt is prevented by this locking lever from reciprocating back into locked position. a 1

The locking lever is balanced in such a manner that it may be swung into disengaged position by the weight of a coin resting thereupon. A coin chute is provided which is capable of delivering a coin into position where the Weight of the coin bears against the locking lever. This causes the locking lever to be disengaged from the latch bolt so that the position by the key. As the latch bolt moves into locked position, the coin is released from engagement with the locking lever and may drop into a suitable receptacle.

A feature of the present invention resides in the-simplicity of the construction. In order to function as described, few modifications must be made to locks of existing design. To produce the coin actuated lock, it is only necessary to add a projection to the latch bolt, a pivotally supported locking lever, and a coin chute which guides a coil toward thislocking lever. As a result, the coin operated locks may be produced at an extremely low cost or production. 1 I

A feature oft'he present invention resides in thsim plicity of the'coin release; The pivotedlo cking lever is provided with a generally horizontal arm onto-which the coin may be guided. The latch bolt projection nor- 10, it being understood that this door'panel'is-hingedly latch bolt may be moved into locked 1 chute.

United States Patent Ofilice ,;.........f.f, ;l3

, ontal'arfii portion which is in spaced relation to' the arm of the locking lever. The coin chute deliversthe coin in such amanner that it engages between the-two parallel arms while still partially supported byflthelower extremity of the coin The weight of the coin will normallyimmediately pivot the locking lever into unlocked position. However, if the key has been turned in a manner to engage the end of the locking lever with sufiicient friction to prevent pivotal movement of the locking'leven'the coin remains suspended until, through operation of the'ske'y',

the frictional engagement between the latch bolt'p'rojec tion and the locking lever is disengaged,'allowingl the locking lever to swing out of the path of movement of' the latch bolt projection. Thelat'ch bolt may then be moved into projected p'ositionincreasin'g' the distance between the two parallel arms 'until this distance is greater than the diameter of the coin. The coin then falls by gravity I into the 'coin receptacleJ These and other objects, and'novel features-pf the present invention, will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims. 5

In the drawings-forming a part of the specification;

Figurel is a perspective view of a portion o'f'a'do'or panel showing the lock with its latch bolt secured in-unlocked position, certain hidden portions being omitted for the sake of clarity. I

Figure 21s a view similarto' Figure 1, showing the latch bolt in projected "position, certain hidden portions beingomittedfor the-sake of clarity. 1 Figure 3 is a sectional view throughthe' marginal edge of a door showing the relative pos'itio'n'of the IOck'and the cabinet frame into which the latch =bolt mayexte'nd. .Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the lock itself showing thesame "in projected position; I Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view'through the lock enclosure showing-the relation of the latch bolt therein; J

Figure'fi is a perspective view of a key whichfmay be used to operaie the lock.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the latch-bolt rem ed f e from the. remainder. of the construction. t 5

In my previous application which is above referred to; I disclose a metal locker cabinethavingahingedly "supported 'door and showing the coin operated 'lock as" a-'. means of holding the door closed. The same construction has been illustrated inthe present application and slightly greater detail has 'been"illustrated fora'better understandingof the lock construction. "While the entire a reversely turned flange 512: which is parallel tothe locker is not illustrated in the present drawings, a portion of the door panel is indicated in general by the numeral supported along the edge parallel with the edge past'which the latch bolt extends.' As indicated in 'Figure 3' ofithe drawings, the door panel 10 is provided with a right' angularly extending edge flange'll which termin at es 'in front panel 10. An inner-door closing panel 13*is' marginally securedin any suitablewayto the flange 112. i

to enclose the lock.. The. locker body is indicatedin g'en eral by the numeral 14 and includes a side wall'15which is provided at its forward edge with a front flangeld bent to provide a door frame flange-17'paralleLto -the" locker side wall. 15. Anioutturned flange 19may "b e provided on the inner edgeof the flange 17 to provide 'a more finished constructioni An" aperture 2 0i's provided l l i in the flange 17 which :is designedto accommodate-theflatch bolt 21 in 'a' manner which will-'b'e:described in: I

detail, v

The lock which forms a part of the present invention is indicated in general by the letter A The lock.A 'is" mounted in a generally rectangularboxlike housing 22 which is shown as having top and bottom wa1ls 23 arm end 59. When the lever is thus disengaged, the latch bolt 21 may be moved into projected position by the key 42 During the projecting movement of the latch bolt 21, the arm end 59 moves away from the arm 67 on the lever, and the coin B is free to drop between the arm 67 and the arm end 59 and into a suitable receptacle below. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the door panel is shown as having an inwardly extending flange 72 onto which the coins may drop. Vertically extending plates 73 and 74 tend to confine the coins within a certain area. The inner panel 13 of the door may serve to hold the coins confined until this panel is removed. In actual practice, the panel 13 is provided with a removable part through which the coins may be removed.

It will be seen that the construction described is extremely simple in form and can be added to a locker cabinet at relatively low cost. The lock itself differs from a conventional lock mainly in the provision of the arm 57 with its angularly turned end 59, the pivotally supported locking lever 62, and the coin chute 71. When these parts are secured in proper relationship, it will function as described to prevent the movement of the latch bolt 21 into locking position. In the event an attempt has been made to move the latch bolt 21 prior to the time the coin B is inserted, and in the event that there is a sufiicient frictional force engaging the hook end 69 of the lever 62 with the arm end 59, it is possible that the weight of the coin B will be temporarily insuificient to pivot the lever arm 62 as described. In this event, the coin remains resting upon the arm 67. When the operator attempts to lock the locker, if the latch bolt 21 does not move toward projected position upon the turning of the key in one rotative direction, the operator normally will turn the key in the opposite direction. As soon as this is done, the frictional engagement between the arm end 59 and the hook end of the locking lever 62 will be released, and the weight of the coin will pivot the lever downwardly, unlocking the latch bolt and permitting it to move.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my coin operated locks, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A coin actuated lock including a horizontally reciprocal latch bolt, key controlled means for reciprocating said latch bolt between locked and unlocked positions, an arm on said latch bolt terminating in an end portion extending transversely of the direction of movement of said latch bolt, a latch lever having a latch bolt engaging end projecting upwardly therefrom, means pivotally supporting said latch lever with said latch bolt engaging end extending beneath said end portion of the arm on said latch bolt and engageable therewith to hold said latch bolt in latched position, horizontally directed coin supporting means on said latch lever near said latch bolt engaging end, means biasing said latch bolt engaging end into engagement with said latch bolt, a coin guide above said coin supporting means for directing a coin onto said supporting means acts to pivot said latch bolt engaging end completely out of engagement with said latch bolt due exclusively to the weight of said coin, said coin sup porting means being spaced from said end portion of said arm a distance less than the diameter of the coin, and in which the coin is supported between said coin support and said transverse end portion of said arm after the weight of the coin has pivoted said latch lever to release said latch bolt and until said latch bolt is moved out of unlocked position.

2. A coin actuated lock including a horizontally reciprocal latch bolt, key controlled means for reciprocating said latch bolt between locked and unlocked positions, a pivotally supported latch lever having a horizontally directed portion, a lever engaging member on said latch bolt, said latch lever including a latch bolt engaging end extending into obstructive engagement with said lever engaging member, means biasing said latch bolt engaging end of said lever into said obstructive engagement so as to prevent said latch bolt from being moved into its 7 unlocked position, a coin guide terminating above said horizontally directed portion for directing a coin onto said horizontally directed portion so that the weight of said coin will force said horizontally directed portion downwardly to pivot said latch bolt engaging end completely out of engagement with said lever engaging member on said latch bolt, whereby said latch bolt is released for movement by said key controlled means, said horizontally directed portion being spaced from said lever engaging member a distance less than the diameter of the coin, and in which the coin is supported between said horizontally directed portion and said lever engaging member after the weight of the coin has pivoted said latch lever to release said latch bolt and until said latch bolt is moved out of unlocked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

